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@egenvs3000f23
Disclaimer School Account
This blog was created for ENVS3000, University of Guelph.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph.
The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.
Learning, growing, and sharing the passion🐛🦋(U10)
Reflecting on my journey of developing my personal stance as a nature interpreter, I realize my ethos is deeply rooted in storytelling. While I would absolutely consider myself smart and capable of any challenge thrown my way, I wouldn't claim to be the one to ask for a perfectly articulated summary of a concept, or a history (or stats oh gosh...)) But! I am your girl if you want to talk about animals or nature with the same excitement and perception shifts you had as a kid; when learning about something like dinosaurs or other planets for the very first time and feeling like your mind was blown, or maybe even that the person was just making stuff up because of how wild it seemed.
At it’s core, my passion sings when having the chance to discuss niche topics with open-minds that delve into things like evolution, coming from the perspective that there are so many mysteries out there that could be unraveled if you only cared to look.
Just this week, some of these topics for me and some peers have included trying to understand bird tetrachromacy (how and why they can see in UV), mammals returning to the water like whales and dolphins, or how?? Literally how??? lemurs got to Madagascar.
To me, it's not just about sharing information, but having fun in the process and getting to share what you learn about the animals and their exploits in ways that would rival the wildest fantasy stories.
[Saw-whet owl wing under UV💡 ]
[OG whale💪🏻 ]
I've been playfully dubbed the "zookeeper of knowledge" by a friend in this context, after spending far too many hours working on a project because we kept getting side-tracked and discussing things not necessarily needed, but so incredibly interesting. (And it’s probably a title I'd gladly claim if it weren't so corny to be honest.) Regardless, it summarizes my commitment to becoming a curator of the captivating craziness that the animal kingdom has to offer. With a bias but passionate zoological perspective, I strive to share my spark of curiosity. ✨
Beyond my zoology lens, I strive for a focus on eco-consciousness in the work that I do, hoping to bridge the gap between science and the public and to foster stronger connection with Mother Nature.
As for translating these passions to children, I’m a firm believer in both transparency and honesty. While it’s almost guaranteed they won’t enjoy their first climate change lesson, I think forming traits of environmental stewardship and the understanding that actions have environmental consequences in children is critical if we want our passion for nature to be held by future generations. I remember my first lonely polar bear on a drifting ice berg video, and yes I was sad….but it left a vivid mark on my consciousness, shaping my understanding of the environmental challenges we face and it very likely brought me to where I am today.
Speaking of inspiring children, I cannot hold myself back as I have to show you guys what I found last week!
[Zoologist Barbie!!!!!!!!💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗]
I'm not even that much of a Barbie fan but I think now I have to be! I would have exploded with joy if I had this as I kid! I mean, if Barbie is doing it, I can't even imagine how many little girls will now be exposed to the possibility of studying zoology or similar topics and I won't lie...I could cry 🥹 (not to mention how close the koala is to a lemur and my personal goals regarding that....interesting......verrry interesting 🔮)
Though I still think going outside with curiosity in mind is the number one way to develop a relationship with nature, I’d consider things and representations like this even more important in places like cities, where natural spaces are becoming less and less accessible due to never-ending infrastructure and the digital domination of screens and virtual experiences.
The allure of video games and online platforms often out-win outdoor activities at least in my own anecdotal experience, raising concerns about the disconnect between the younger generation and the natural world. I think environmental educators are becoming more and more important in schools, and I believe they play a pivotal role in counteracting this trend, as they offer opportunities for a child to focus on wonders within the natural world. I had a hard time myself trying to sound reasonable to many of my friends and family as a kid when saying I wanted to study animals and nature since technology was progressing so quickly and I was viewed as looking backwards.
and so I think this doll (or things similar) can reinspire or hold that flame when kids aren't yet to sure if they'll find a nice outdoor spot to explore, an educator excited to answer questions, or a community like Guelph that embraces natural sciences so much.
In my opinion, harsh climate crisis truths can surely be sugar-coated for young minds to an extent, but to completely wait until their old enough to ‘actually understand’ is just providing the perfect opportunity for a child to become a distracted or oblivious teenager or adult. Again, this is my opinion but at this point in time, in a current climate crisis with almost no signs of slowing down, being an adult in a country like Canada and purposely ignoring it is NOT cool!!
Now, we don’t have to live every moment with the weight of the world on our shoulders, and I don’t wish that on anyone! But I believe the absolute bare minimum is to consider our actions in relation to nature and provide the next generation the building blocks and exposure they'll need to make environmentally conscious choices. Concepts like reusable water bottles over disposable plastic ones, not littering, and realizing our planet belongs to others too aren’t scary things and if anything, promote cultures of care and community. These seemingly simple ideas start to lay the foundation for responsible and conscious individuals to gladly carry the torch of environmental awareness into the future!
Anyways, that's what's up with me, and so I hope you've found at least one thing on my blog that made you think about, reconsider, or learn something, and maybe even want to go hug a tree 💝🐛
Works cited
Johnson, N. A., Lahti, D. C., & Blumstein, D. T. (2012). Combating the Assumption of Evolutionary Progress: Lessons from the Decay and Loss of Traits. Evolution Education & Outreach, 5(1), 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12052-011-0381-y
Northern saw-whet owl outstretched wing under blacklight, by Seabrook Leckie, Attribution-NonCommercal-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license, https://www.flickr.com/photos/rustyblackbird/
Hi there!!
This was a great post. I really really appreciated the careful and articulate way that you encouraged facing the climate crisis in a constructive way. I fully agree we need to encourage and provide resources for children, and adults alike to build that relationship with nature. I also agree that it is important not to sugar coat things, I too remember seeing that starving polar bear and being moved to do something about it, that likely contributed to my being here in this class writing this blog post today. The things that are difficult to witness are the things that need our attention. I think that avoiding hard topics, conversations and realities to be extremely harmful and likely how we have gotten into the situations we are confronted with today. Humans are not separate from nature, but are a part of it, this is an idea that was not commonly held in the recent past but I believe is one that is reclaiming its place to fill the demand created by previous neglect. The world is moving and becoming ever more technologically advanced, however there remain certain realities that will never fade. Humans and their place and impact on the environment, as well as the animals and nature within this environment will always be of concern. There may not always be a lot of money but there will always be meaningful work.
I really appreciated your post. You do really have a talent for storytelling!! Good luck with the rest of the semester!
Week 10 Blog Post and a quick farewell:)
Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?
I can’t believe it’s already time for the final blog post of the semester, it feels like it wasn’t that long ago that I was getting situated and writing my first one! This week’s prompt definitely led to a lot of thinking and ruminating in order to come up with a concise way of summing up ethics, beliefs and responsibilities. I think the best way to work through this will be to take it one point at a time as they are referenced in the prompt.
For starters - personal ethics. Throughout this course I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be a nature interpreter and what effects I might be able to have on the world as a result of it. Being able to interpret the vast complexities of nature through music, technology, art and a multitude of other ways are all going to be important and bring new challenges that will butt up against my ethics.
I think a good place to start is that nature has an innate value to it that is worth preserving. This likely isn’t unique among environmental scientists and nature interpreters but that’s for a good reason. As a whole, nature is fascinating, vast and incredibly complex and while my knowledge about it will never be complete I do know that I want to preserve it so that future generations can be as inspired as I am by it.
Ethically I think it is also important to teach, or interpret, for my audience in a responsible way. This includes things like doing proper, well cited research in order to be able to convey a truthful outlook of nature. I think many of us know the struggle of writing a paper, relying on one or two sources that are supportive of your point only to later find an array of more recent papers that disprove your thesis. While instances like this can be frustrating it is still important to use the most current and accurate information in order to be truthful, sowing disinformation will only lead to more issues down the line.
Finally on the ethics point, which is maybe a bit muddier than my other points, is that nature and human development will not always be able to cleanly coincide with each other. I think we all know this at some level but what I’m trying to get at with this point is that sometimes we will have to sacrifice what is good for humanity in order to preserve nature and sometimes we will have to sacrifice nature in order to preserve humanity, it’s a delicate balancing act of keeping these two important aspects in a place where they can both prosper. If this point isn’t clear yet, let me give a short example. If we want to move to renewable energy there are still some hurdles with storage and consistency that solar, wind and hydro haven’t yet solved (although we’re getting there!). Perhaps using nuclear energy to fill in these gaps in the meantime could be the lesser evil even if it means creating some large mines, dealing with radioactive waste etc. since it would drastically cut carbon emissions until we can use renewables as our sole source of energy.
So to sum up my ethos I would put it as three main points:
Nature has innate value
Interpret truthfully and responsibly
Nature and humanity will not both always be able to benefit from every decision
As for my beliefs; learning from nature is also innately valuable to me. If I can learn from nature in order to preserve it better then that’s perfect. It is my hope that one day we can have someone interested enough in each and every tiny interaction that exists in nature so that we can piece together how it works as a whole. I believe that being able to understand nature at every level is important - all the way from the biochemical level up to the broadest look at ecosystem health and function. With the variety of information we could gain by understanding these levels of nature I believe we could find a way for humanity to live much more harmoniously on Earth compared to how we live now. I believe it will be the job of interpreters like us to drive climate policy to a sustainable level.
This leads nicely to some of my responsibilities as a nature interpreter. While I as an individual may not be able to influence as much as I’d like I still believe I have a place in helping the world function in a more environmentally friendly way. That could be something as small as teaching other individuals about why nature is important to preserve or, if I can manage it, maybe help larger organizations or governments make smart, effective decisions about preserving our environments. Personally, I think I would be more effective at the lower levels of this scale. I mentioned in other blogs doing things like rewilding degraded habitats or doing small guided nature walks as a way to get people to care about environmental issues. I think I work better at this scale since I’m able to see tangible effects from the work I’m doing. Working at higher levels, like determining climate policy, is tough because while you may be able to look at data like average global temperatures it’s so much less tangible than being able to see plant growth in an area that didn’t have any before.
Well, I think that about wraps up my thoughts for this final blog post. It was an interesting semester of reading fellow classmates’ blog posts every week and learning from them. I’ve mentioned it in past posts but I believe the future of environmentalism is looking optimistic because of the way you all treat issues and want the world to improve. I hope that in the years to come I get to see all sorts of advancements and improvements because of interpreters like you all:)
Hello!
Thank you very much for your post! You reflected very deeply and had me considering my own views in ways I had not before. I really appreciate the way you mentioned how not every step towards progress can serve its direct goals. As you said, sometimes the human side needs to be prioritized, and other times the natural side needs to be prioritized. Without spending time and attention on each side of these issues progress would be ineffective. It would be one sided. What good does conserving nature do if the human side of things is always neglected and vice versa! The pathway is not linear but is reciprocal between a series of interconnected needs.
I also appreciated the way you left everything on a positive note. I think people can get very dreadful about the issues of our world. I respect this, but also believe we all need to remain optimistic enough to make small changes and seek constant improvements to face the trials of our times.
I also think the way you mentioned the scale of change and roles within them to be helpful! I think that it is a very important perspective that being an environmentalist is not a job. It is an attitude which we can all take to our jobs. Every job can be and should be an environmental job. People will do best at what suits them, there is no right way to be an environmental citizen so long as individuals take an environmental perspective to their skillsets, work and life habits.
Again I really appreciate this post and the perspectives it gave me! Good luck with the rest of the semester!
Week 10 Blog Post and a quick farewell:)
Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?
I can’t believe it’s already time for the final blog post of the semester, it feels like it wasn’t that long ago that I was getting situated and writing my first one! This week’s prompt definitely led to a lot of thinking and ruminating in order to come up with a concise way of summing up ethics, beliefs and responsibilities. I think the best way to work through this will be to take it one point at a time as they are referenced in the prompt.
For starters - personal ethics. Throughout this course I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be a nature interpreter and what effects I might be able to have on the world as a result of it. Being able to interpret the vast complexities of nature through music, technology, art and a multitude of other ways are all going to be important and bring new challenges that will butt up against my ethics.
I think a good place to start is that nature has an innate value to it that is worth preserving. This likely isn’t unique among environmental scientists and nature interpreters but that’s for a good reason. As a whole, nature is fascinating, vast and incredibly complex and while my knowledge about it will never be complete I do know that I want to preserve it so that future generations can be as inspired as I am by it.
Ethically I think it is also important to teach, or interpret, for my audience in a responsible way. This includes things like doing proper, well cited research in order to be able to convey a truthful outlook of nature. I think many of us know the struggle of writing a paper, relying on one or two sources that are supportive of your point only to later find an array of more recent papers that disprove your thesis. While instances like this can be frustrating it is still important to use the most current and accurate information in order to be truthful, sowing disinformation will only lead to more issues down the line.
Finally on the ethics point, which is maybe a bit muddier than my other points, is that nature and human development will not always be able to cleanly coincide with each other. I think we all know this at some level but what I’m trying to get at with this point is that sometimes we will have to sacrifice what is good for humanity in order to preserve nature and sometimes we will have to sacrifice nature in order to preserve humanity, it’s a delicate balancing act of keeping these two important aspects in a place where they can both prosper. If this point isn’t clear yet, let me give a short example. If we want to move to renewable energy there are still some hurdles with storage and consistency that solar, wind and hydro haven’t yet solved (although we’re getting there!). Perhaps using nuclear energy to fill in these gaps in the meantime could be the lesser evil even if it means creating some large mines, dealing with radioactive waste etc. since it would drastically cut carbon emissions until we can use renewables as our sole source of energy.
So to sum up my ethos I would put it as three main points:
Nature has innate value
Interpret truthfully and responsibly
Nature and humanity will not both always be able to benefit from every decision
As for my beliefs; learning from nature is also innately valuable to me. If I can learn from nature in order to preserve it better then that’s perfect. It is my hope that one day we can have someone interested enough in each and every tiny interaction that exists in nature so that we can piece together how it works as a whole. I believe that being able to understand nature at every level is important - all the way from the biochemical level up to the broadest look at ecosystem health and function. With the variety of information we could gain by understanding these levels of nature I believe we could find a way for humanity to live much more harmoniously on Earth compared to how we live now. I believe it will be the job of interpreters like us to drive climate policy to a sustainable level.
This leads nicely to some of my responsibilities as a nature interpreter. While I as an individual may not be able to influence as much as I’d like I still believe I have a place in helping the world function in a more environmentally friendly way. That could be something as small as teaching other individuals about why nature is important to preserve or, if I can manage it, maybe help larger organizations or governments make smart, effective decisions about preserving our environments. Personally, I think I would be more effective at the lower levels of this scale. I mentioned in other blogs doing things like rewilding degraded habitats or doing small guided nature walks as a way to get people to care about environmental issues. I think I work better at this scale since I’m able to see tangible effects from the work I’m doing. Working at higher levels, like determining climate policy, is tough because while you may be able to look at data like average global temperatures it’s so much less tangible than being able to see plant growth in an area that didn’t have any before.
Well, I think that about wraps up my thoughts for this final blog post. It was an interesting semester of reading fellow classmates’ blog posts every week and learning from them. I’ve mentioned it in past posts but I believe the future of environmentalism is looking optimistic because of the way you all treat issues and want the world to improve. I hope that in the years to come I get to see all sorts of advancements and improvements because of interpreters like you all:)
Blog 10! Final Blog :(
This is your last required blog post – but note that it is worth two submissions so please double your response and respond to twice as many of your peers’ posts.
Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?
I am graduating on December 6th! Wow what a time university has been, I have made so many amazing friendships here, and learned so so much! This course will have a lasting impact for me, I have gained many transferable skills and a knowledge basis that should set me up well for what I want to do next! Now as for what I want to do next, this is a great question. A few ideas include, a masters of environmental science, a highschool/outdoor educator teaching degree, or lastly to start working; I have applied to two nature interpretation based jobs. The first is at a tourism company called “Backroads”, they create active travel trips through some of the most beautiful places in the world; I’ve applied to work as a guide with them in the Rockies. Additionally I have applied to work as a natural and cultural heritage interpreter in Banff National Park. I’m stressed as I face the unknown but I am sure that one of these many things will work out, I am so excited and nervous to see which it is. I figured this to be a good place to start this post off, saying what is coming next for me, and giving some thanks. So thank you teachers, classmates and blog readers! I have learned a lot from your posts, the course, and from writing posts myself! I wish you all the best in the future :)
Now as for my personal work ethic as a nature interpreter, I think the most important place to start is with my privilege. I grew up in a family that encouraged time in the outdoors. I grew up in a town in the middle of rural Caledon, where I learned a lot about the natural world on my own. However it was not until I had the chance to work out west and was surrounded by super knowledgeable people, that the scope of my understanding and appreciation for the outdoors escalated. I have been lucky to have the opportunities that I did, and to be able to meet and learn from the knowledgeable people that I met. I think its critical that we and myself as interpreters are aware of our and other peoples privilege, as well as a lack thereof. Being able to access the outdoors requires a preexisting knowledge or contact to someone with relevant knowledge and skills; nature and outdoors communities are frequently gated. Further, most outdoor activities happen in free time. Free time is something that is more easily afforded by those with high enough paying jobs and a manageable amount of life stress. The time, money and energy needed to pursue interests, especially those in the outdoors, and one with a hired guide is something that is not accessible to everyone. We must be patient, encouraging and compassionate. An understanding and adaptability to differing privileges must be at the center of my planning as a nature interpreter. It is a responsibility that precurses all others.
What do I bring as an interpreter? Well, as someone who grew up a competitive athlete, I think I value more than other people, the kinesthetic opportunities in interpretation. I think I could build a really effective, physically, demanding adventure. I think I could do well teaching people about how to be safe in the outdoors, and how to replace fear with respect for the demanding and scariness of the so-called “wild”. I believe I can make type two fun approachable! I also bring from my arts and science degree an interdisciplinary perspective. I can interpret topography, and earth processes from geography. I have a strong appreciation and understanding for different people and cultures and the concepts of privilege from anthropology. I have a good understanding of how the biological and ecological worlds function from biology. I was in a visual arts program in high school and could bring the art theory I learned to my programming as well. I think I would do well as an interpreter where I have the freedom to combine these disciplines and think out of the box.These approaches are most suitable to me as an interpreter.
I believe all interpreters have the responsibility to present information in the most approachable way possible.This is to ensure that all participants are invested in the experience, and that they make their own takeaways. I think an interpretive experience has failed if it is not flexible, adaptable and or it encourages a strict outcome. There needs to be availability for the participants to make their own connections and discoveries and to share them with the group. The role of interpreter is more one of facilitation of a shared learning experience, this is what makes it so different from a classroom setting, this is what makes it so powerful. Interpreters also play the important role of mediation, guidance and safety in their given environments, and between participants.
Lastly, but importantly, I think that interpreters have a duty to encourage further learning and interest, as well as optimism and hope. Ecoanxiety is a prevalent thing in our day and age. It does not do a lot of good to teach and inspire, when their is a looming veil of dread hanging over. We must demonstrate to people our ability to make a positive impact on the world, and the reason why we should all still try to make our proportions of difference despite seemingly dire circumstances. Any change aiming at bettering the environmental crisis is better than that change never having been taken at all. Being reasonably optimistic is essential to facing the many challenges life creates.
Get out there: adventure, listen carefully and share your stories!
Blog post 8
Hey guys! One of the most amazing things about nature in my opinion, are animals and their young and their instincts that help them survive from birth. If you haven't already read my previous blog posts, I will let you know right now how much I love turtles! Since I love them so much they are the example I will be using for my blog today.
When turtles are born, they hatch in a nest buried in the ground and instinctively find their way first to the surface and to the nearest body of water. How do they do this? Instincts! They are just born with this natural instinct to first dig their way out of the nest and then head toward the water. It's not fully understood how they know where to go.
I love being able to teach people about turtles but this is one of the harder things to understand especially for kids. The fact that the mom lays the eggs and may never see her babies is a difficult thing to wrap your head around when you rely so heavily on your parents! It truly is a crazy thing yet they have adapted to up their chances of survival by laying more eggs. While birds may only lay three or four eggs turtles will lay at least 20 (for snapping turtles, less for painted turtles). The older the turtle the more eggs she will lay! The most I've ever seen in a nest was 55. The more eggs she lays the more likely one of them will survive to adulthood.
Many animals have similar stories with their young where there is little to no caregiving provided for their young. It's hard to believe they can survive right away with no help! This is one of the most incredible things about nature to me and I hope you enjoyed reading more about turtles!
Hello!
This is a great post! I think it is really interesting to look at these instincts and just how different they are from species to species. It makes me think of r and K reproductive strategies that we learned about in ecology. Some species produce huge numbers of young knowing very few will survive to adulthood this is an r strategy. Humans follow a K strategy where they invest more into their young who cannot take care of themselves on their own for a large period of their youth. Instincts are an incredible phenomena that I would love to have a better understanding of. I completely agree they are one of the coolest things about nature!
I had no knowledge of sea turtles prior to your post. I find it so cool how every year they lay more and more eggs, increasing the odds their young survive! I did some further reading and think it's amazing how they return to the same beach they were born at to lay their eggs. It turns out that sea turtles use the earth’s geomagnetic field to derive the navigational information they need to return home! Imagine having an internal GPS like that so, so, so, cool!
There are countless things like this throughout the animal kingdom. Fungi communicate with one another, geese and birds migrate from north to south with the seasons. Animals rely on the moon and sun. There is so much to be amazed by.
Thanks for your post!
Blog post 8
Hey guys! One of the most amazing things about nature in my opinion, are animals and their young and their instincts that help them survive from birth. If you haven't already read my previous blog posts, I will let you know right now how much I love turtles! Since I love them so much they are the example I will be using for my blog today.
When turtles are born, they hatch in a nest buried in the ground and instinctively find their way first to the surface and to the nearest body of water. How do they do this? Instincts! They are just born with this natural instinct to first dig their way out of the nest and then head toward the water. It's not fully understood how they know where to go.
I love being able to teach people about turtles but this is one of the harder things to understand especially for kids. The fact that the mom lays the eggs and may never see her babies is a difficult thing to wrap your head around when you rely so heavily on your parents! It truly is a crazy thing yet they have adapted to up their chances of survival by laying more eggs. While birds may only lay three or four eggs turtles will lay at least 20 (for snapping turtles, less for painted turtles). The older the turtle the more eggs she will lay! The most I've ever seen in a nest was 55. The more eggs she lays the more likely one of them will survive to adulthood.
Many animals have similar stories with their young where there is little to no caregiving provided for their young. It's hard to believe they can survive right away with no help! This is one of the most incredible things about nature to me and I hope you enjoyed reading more about turtles!
Unit 9: Interpret (through this blog) the most amazing thing you know about nature – get us excited. This is your blog – you audience isn’t out in the field with you so bring the field to your armchair reader.
Hmmm, there are so many ways a person could run with this prompt. Choosing my direction for this one was hard! In this blog post we are going to take a look at combining scientific views, with those of arts and indigenous ecological knowledge. The most amazing things about nature are clear when we view it from as many perspectives as possible simultaneously.
To illustrate this blog we will consider asters and goldenrod, their beauty and why they grow together. The aster is a deep purpley blue flower, and goldenrod a bright yellow almost gold appearing flower.
I’m going to start off by talking about art. Colour theory explains why certain colours look good together. We also need to remember that colour is just light in its different wavelengths interacting with chemical matter around us. The presentation of colour in nature or at least our and other animals' perceptions of it serves purpose. This purpose is to create a world as diverse as possible. By having different colours grouped and perceived in different patterns the diversity and possible niches for life to exist expands greatly. The way colours present themselves is art, but its also ecological! By the yellow and purple flowers growing together, different pollinators are attracted, different fungi are spread, and different nutrients are absorbed and released into the soil. This gross understatement of reciprocal interactions portrays the spiritual and artful complexity of scientific nature. Music can be found in nature as we discussed in our earlier weeks. Music is mathematical, oscillations and frequencies, music is emotional, music is cultural.
With this all being said, let's further explore the science of this phenomena. The Fibonacci Sequence, is a mathematical sequence where the next number is found by adding the two numbers before it. For example 0+1=1, then 1+1 = 2, then 1+2 +3, then 2+3=5 and so on. When squares are made with these widths, a spiral forms. The Fibonnaci numbers converge to create the golden ratio. These patterns can be found everywhere in nature!! Plants and flowers grow in patterns that fit this spiral as it maximizes space and the ability for plants to absorb light from the sun! It also explains the number of petals. The ratio can be found in the pattern of shells and in animals as well! Artists frequently use this ratio to compose their art in aesthetically appealing ways. By far the most amazing thing about nature is its complexities and connections with everything, even those which seem unrelated. Science can be emotional, and spiritual, something that the western scientific method does not like to traditionally recognize.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge can be defined as a cumulative body of knowledge, practice and belief that evolves by accumulating TEK, firsthand and handed down through generations of traditional songs, stories, beliefs and lessons. Among indigenous communities science is not strictly objective. It is spiritual. We are a part of the natural world, and are subject to natural law. Humans are not above nature but are a part of it. Time is cyclical rather than linear and our actions are a part of reciprocal relationships. Science lets us zoom into what we cannot observe and Traditional ecological knowledge can connect it to a human's place in the natural world. We are not removed from science, we are not removed from nature, we are not removed from art, we are simultaneously all these things.
If people can view nature and life in this simply complex place of interconnection, everything becomes limitlessly beautiful. If we are effected into affecting the world around us, well then our actions and thoughts come back around to ourselves and the larger system. We should all take care of ourselves and everything around us. Especially one another and the natural world.
This is to me the most amazing thing about nature it's all a system. It is everything. Learning to see it in as many ways as possible simultaneously puts me at a loss for words.
Music in Interpretation
Blog 7: Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?
As a follow-up (focus on the above two before you tackle this one), what song takes you immediately back to a natural landscape? What is the context? Share it with us – I would imagine many of these ideas may have similar underpinnings of a campfire, roadtrip, backpacking journey, etc.!
From my experiences, music is very prominent all throughout nature. If we look for it hard enough, I believe we can find music in any part of nature. The most obvious place is in animals like whales and birds who have songs of their own, but upon closer inspection music is abundant in many other natural places. From the gurgle of a brook to leaves rustling from a breeze there is no question that there is a natural music to the world around us. When I get stressed, I like to venture into the forest behind my house and listen to the sounds of nature. This allows me to slow down and return to my roots as a creature of earth. It is moments like these that truly make me believe that nature is filled with music.
By the same token, nature is a motif in music around the world. “In many cultures, stories, songs, poems, and dances are not just for celebration and fun, but also to teach and inform (Courselink).” Music is within humans. We are connected to our environment. Therefore, that connection and awe of nature often inspires music. I enjoyed reading the article from our textbook, The Arts Provide Another Dimension to Interpretation, as there was a quote which mentioned that “If the songs are not sung and the stories are not told, the land will die.” It was also said that “If the songs are not sung and the stories are not told, danced, painted, or acted, our spirits will die as well.” Humans are very emotional creatures. Something to note about music is that it draws on our emotions, frequently resulting in an impactful and moving experience. Due to this idea, I believe that nature interpretation should include music as it will increase emotional participation. It is something that we need more of in discussions and action revolving around environmental issues like climate change.
Personally, I adore music and I have so many songs that remind me of natural landscapes. In my experience, music has always had the power to create vivid images in my mind. If I’m being honest, I have a whole playlist that reminds me of the mountains. Music evokes such powerful emotions, and this playlist never fails to encapsulate the feelings I have when I’m travelling. Although there are many, the one song that never fails to take me back to the mountain ranges is Sleep on the Floor by the Lumineers. This song is particularly good at drawing me back to the mountains because it reminds me of my trip to Tofino, BC. We drove from Nanaimo to Tofino (a 2.5-hour drive) and blasted the Lumineers the whole time. I grew up travelling and listening to the Lumineers on long drives, so it is only natural that this song reminds me of the natural places I’ve been to (specifically mountains).
I’ve attached the link to the song mentioned (Sleep on the Floor by the Lumineers) as well as some images from my travels that often appear in my head when listening to it.
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4pi1LxuDHc
Hello!
Great post, I really enjoyed and related to what you wrote about. I worked the past two summers in the mountains and every time I hear, the Lumineers, Mt Joy, and PeachPit I think of my time out west adventuring. It's so fascinating how music can transport us to different times and places. There is a TikTok account I follow where the experiences of a 90 years old lady with dementia are followed. When she hears music from when she is younger her appearance changes and she can recall peoples names and the odd story. The lady herself was a musician, and despite not being able to do much else she was once able, she can play the piano amazingly she always just needs help getting started. Music is powerful. Drawing music into nature interpretation can be done in so many ways: by writing fun songs that teach about science, by composing music by pointing out sounds in nature, or playing music to help people reconnect with the interpretive experience later on. I have never thought to make playlists that remind me of places and nature. I think that is a great idea. I’m going to start doing exactly that!
Thanks for your post :)
Blog 7
Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?
As a follow-up (focus on the above two before you tackle this one), what song takes you immediately back to a natural landscape? What is the context? Share it with us – I would imagine many of these ideas may have similar underpinnings of a campfire, roadtrip, backpacking journey, etc.!
I heard a quote the other day. It said “art decorates space while music decorates time”. Now this is not entirely true, as art decorates space through time as well. However I think this is a really neat concept to open this blog. If we can bring music into nature interpretation we can use music to have the interpretive experience long out live the moments it is presented. It brings an element of humanesses and community to science. Nature interpretation is experiential learning, and experiential learning brings humanness to science through art.
One of my favourite music and nature experiences comes from a road trip I went on with my family when I was 13. It was July and I had just finished grade 8, my sister, myself, my parents, and my grandparents set out for a 3 week tent-trailer camping trip out east, to go up around NewFoundland and back. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, however 3 weeks in a car with family was intense to say the least. It was impossible to agree on anything. What to eat, where to camp, and… what to listen to. Eventually my family came across the Piano Guys. For those of you who have not listened, it's an easy guess, it's piano music. However, it has a twist: there is a lot of cello and many of the songs are of popular tunes but made into a-typical upbeat classical version. This compromise on music ended up defining the trip. There is not a song my family and I do not love from the Piano Guys and the incredible thing is when any of us listen to their music we all get brought back to that time and the various places we visited. There is one song called “Michael Meets Mozart”, and it reminds me of the Skerwink Trail in Newfoundland. When that song comes on I remember icebergs, killer wails and I can see the trail we walked on. I can remember how it felt to be in Newfoundland, and I can remember what it was like to be 13 and still living with my family. I also remember the geography and animals I learned about. The way tundra trees grow for hundreds of years and only reach a couple feet in height, the way gannets live in massive colonies on cliffs, it all comes back to me when I hear that song. Music is incredibly powerful to create a shared experience and a memorable one at the same time. This is definitely something to be leveraged in working as a nature interpreter.
As for a more abstract perspective, nature makes music itself. If people are seeking out nature interpretation they are likely feeling they need an escape from the realities of modern life. Most of us living in cities, suburbs and everyday jobs are so used to thinking and analyzing. We are so in our heads thanks to constant media streaming around us. Guiding people through using their senses and grounding them in the present moment can really add to an interpretive experience and help to remove them from the busy lives we lead. Asking people what they hear and how they hear it. Getting them to share what they find and building up a symphony from peoples experiences of the place they actually are. One could say the way aspen leaves blow in the wind make a background music. The birds sing the melody. Branches hitting one another percussion. There is a lot of fun and wonder to be had in analyzing nature through various art forms, and many ways to slip scientific content in. The potentials are endless, and no piece or interpretation of the art is the same. This is the power of music in nature interpretation. The freedom to just be present, enjoy the moment, and learn something in a memorable way.
Blog #6
Prompt:
There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.
When we consider nature interpretation through the lens of history, we need to consider whose history we are telling and why. What truths are being shared? What role does privilege play in this? What responsibility might we have to share the authentic voices and experiences of others who came before us and experienced the same nature in perhaps a different way? The story you share is but one of many. Being sure to include or mention others stories in your story. I think these are all important questions to ask when interpreting history, but also just as important to consider when reading or learning about it.
History is important because it creates meaning and context to the present moment. Nothing in our realities makes any sense and would not have been possible if it was not for the events that created the structures and ideas we all operate on; this is culture. History makes our differences make sense, and also allows us to achieve compassion for, an understanding of, and to celebrate our differences. It is through learning history that we can prevent mistakes from the past from repeating themselves, and create a better understanding of the conflicts we witness in the present day. When the quote talks about a train passing through a railway station I think this is referring to any event in history. It would be foolish to assume a train would only come by a station once. The train station represents the certain unfolding of events, or the present moment and the moving trains, the time and build up to the events that happen.The train is always coming to, is at, or is leaving the station. It's just that different people doing different things at a different time come through the station. The same story is never told twice, but any story could never have happened without its precursors. To make sense of modern day conflicts it is crucial to understand the various histories and the meaning of these histories to different people. That is one danger of today, and one of the interesting moral questions. We live in a world of informational access, one where we have a voice and a platform unlike previous generations did. It becomes a question of ethics however to voice opinions on events without a proper understanding of history and who is to be affected by an only partially informed voice. The more history, the more perspectives and otherness we understand the better an outlook there is for ourselves, our communities, and collective humanity.
In interpretation, it is important to present history in a way that is careful of other perspectives but to make sure that it is presented in a way that is relevant to the person learning about the history. To learn of events in the past without an understanding of one's own connection to them is poor interpretation. Interpretation should always call on someone's sense of self and worldview, they need to understand history in the context of the experience in which they learn it. Otherwise it is too abstract, unrelatable, and forgettable.
Unit 6 Blog
Prompt:
There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.
(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)
Unpack this quote.
I am someone who loves history. I will purposely seek out means to expand my knowledge of our existence as it excites me to know where exactly we came from and how certain events effectively changed society. In my third year I took a class on medieval history and was surprised to see how much religion was intertwined in politics for thousands of years. I was expecting knights and princesses and heroics but was met with more complex worldviews that influence culture to this very day. History to me, is not so much of the specifics of a particular event, but why it happened and the implications it had on subsequent events.
I know many people may not get the same joy of diving into the past, which is okay. However, not understanding why history is a subject that is mandatory to take in high school and complaining about why we need to learn about things already dead and gone is not. As the above quote suggests, history does not matter unless there is a drive to maintain those past lessons. And this drive is only possible through the real-life consequences that echoed as a result, keeping the memory alive in some people.
If we look inward at Canadian history, we can find some good examples of this. One that is especially pertinent are the injustices surrounding Indigenous communities across the nation. The effects of colonialism, genocide, and the erasure of consequences have been long-lasting, citing a need for reconciliation in the current day. Looking back is oftentimes uncomfortable, but it is necessary for rewriting wrongs and ensuring that it doesn't happen again. We still have a long way to go and current policies are not perfect but the seeds are finally being planted.
To tie in the nature interpretation side of things, the environment is deeply engrained into our culture. For the longest time we've tried to unravel science and were only able to crack the code by people who aren't traditionally trained. As noted in Unit 6 in our course content, enthusiastic naturalists have been integral in preserving the natural history of a location or an organism for hundreds of years. Take Darwin for example, whose love for nature led to one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs ever.
Knowing our natural history has further implications for understanding the impacts of climate change. Data can be used to locate anomalies and trends to see what's normal and what's not. We can also see if certain organisms are shifting their ranges or if their population sizes are changing. Having these little pieces of information that people long ago were passionate to not only write down but kept it alive into the modern day.
Hi! I really enjoyed your blog post.
Your writing on the interconnections of politics and religion in history was a really fascinating and powerful concept.
I think that religion and belief systems hold so much power and influence in our worlds as they hold the ability to create meaning to existence, provide direction in life, and a moral compass for making decisions. I myself do not follow any religion but am always fascinated by the way it shapes worldviews and creates community. I think in a globalized world removing religion from politics to be incredibly important. However I can understand why in the past it had the strong influence that it did. Furthering this, books, ideas, concepts and history all together changes based on who is analyzing it. The same events have countless perspectives.
I really agree with you that it is super important that we study history in highschool so that everyone has exposure to it. Unfortunately I do think that history repeats itself and it's only through awareness and respect for past events that we have any chance of making repetitions less frequent or less damaging than they were previously. There is always a winner or loser, an oppressor or oppressed and injustice always comes back further down the road, even if it's in a slightly different form. The past affords the present and understanding the past can inform us how to find the best solutions in the present.
Great post thank you for sharing!
My Experience with Operation Groundswell and My Future Plans with Ecotourism - Blog 5
In March 2019, I embarked on an ecotourism trip to Cusco, Peru, with an organization called Operation Groundswell. You may be thinking, you went on this trip in 2019; why are you still bringing it up?! My answer to that is because it honestly shaped my life! I was in my victory lap (or Grade 13) of high school, looking for ways to get out and experience the world. I knew that I needed to revive myself with travel and step outside my comfort zone, and lucky enough, an Instagram ad popped onto my timeline. This ad promoted ecotourism, something I had not heard of, but I was intrigued. After checking out their Instagram page and looking further into their website, I came across the “Peru: Secrets of the Sacred Valley” trip. Before my research, I had never considered travelling to Peru and had minimal knowledge. I calculated the finances, dipped into my savings, purchased some outdoor gear, and decided to explore what Peru had to offer. I would like to recognize the privilege I had to participate in this experience and my ability to purchase the outdoor gear I needed. Without support from family and some fundraisers, this trip would have never been available to me. I am so grateful that this opportunity came to me and that I was able to gain financial support!
After months of fundraising, saving, and picking up extra shifts, I headed to Toronto Pearson Airport for only my second time and set off to Peru with only a backpack! I embraced my family one last time before setting off for my first solo travel experience. From Toronto, I travelled to JFK Airport in New York -> Lima, Peru -> Cusco, Peru, the final destination. The long commute was exhausting, but I was revived once Peru's warm, humid air hit my face. I was picked up by the local ecotourism leader and transported to our hostel to meet the rest of the ecotourism group!
Figure 1. Cusco, Peru. Photographed by: Brigette Matthias.
While on this trip, I was fully immersed in Peruvian culture and learned the history of the Andes! We spent time making our own granola bars out of local ingredients, picking eucalyptus and creating our own essential oils, collaborating with local environmentalist groups to discuss the issues the Indigenous community faced regarding mining injustices, and spent three days hiking through the pristine Sacred Valley. This trip began a strong relationship between myself and the environment, and it guided me to environmental science!
I was unfamiliar with mining injustices and the mining industry's impact on the earth and the people. Many mining companies take advantage of the Indigenous community in Peru and offer them false promises and monetary rewards. The main issue is that the Indigenous people are told they will gain lots of money by selling their land to mining companies, but they often lack financial literacy and knowledge about banking. Therefore, they are left with no land and no money. Mining and resource extraction is a significant industry in Peru, however, these extractions are responsible for polluting the environment and displacing the rightful landowners. This not only happens in Peru, but it happens in Canada, as well. Many injustices facing Indigenous communities in Canada are due to large fossil fuel corporations and their greed to overexploit resources, displace Indigenous communities, and gain profit. Companies such as these have caused many environmental issues and contributed to climate change. Learning about these hardships in Peru led me to further research these environmental problems. It encouraged me to attend school to learn more about how I can play a role in mitigating climate change and ecological extraction.
My trip also allowed me to learn the benefits of medicinal plants and how the knowledge of these plants was passed down for generations. Our group gathered eucalyptus leaves to be prepared for essential oil making, and we watched a local use their equipment to produce natural products. Peruvians have learned to respect the land and Mother Earth, whom they call Pachamama. They appreciate the earth and use medicinal plants to treat illnesses and support their health. They also use plants to produce natural dyes for clothing and textile art, such as bracelets, headbands, hats, and purses. Learning how the colourful Peruvian clothes were made was fascinating, and I am beyond grateful that I got to see this firsthand.
Figure 2: Brigette and Kait in naturally dyed, traditional Peruvian clothing.
A local guide guided us through the Sacred Valley with his dog over three days. He taught us about the native plants and the importance of the valley, led us to a farm that tended to sheep and lived isolated from the cities, and taught us his native language. This was one of the most influential nature interpretation walks I have ever experienced, and I learned so much about Peru! Nature interpretation truly is a vessel and can allow people to feel connected to the earth, nature, and everything it provides. Ecotourism is also an excellent method for eco-conscious tourists. It can allow local environmental groups to receive funding while spreading their knowledge about their work to the rest of the world.
Figure 3: Brigette and local guide in the Sacred Valley, Peru.
I am forever changed by my trip to Peru. I am thankful that Operation Groundswell offers such beautiful ecotourism programs that allow people to experience the world thoroughly and unconventionally. I plan to travel to Guatemala with this organization after completing my undergraduate studies! I recommend this program to anyone with a love for nature, a backpacking enthusiast, or anyone seeking a meaningful and immersive thrill!
Figure 4: The March 2019 Operation Groundswell Peru Group in the Sacred Valley, Peru.
What places have you travelled to, and how did your travels impact your lives? I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s travel memories!
To learn more about Operation Groundswell: Operation Groundswell: Backpacking with a Purpose | Join Today!
Hello!
WoW WoW this was a cool post, thank you for sharing and drawing attention to not only your amazing trip but the issues you encountered and learned about. The potential for ecotourism as a more sustainable method of travel is many tiered. Not only as you say, does it supports local NGO's, natural protection agencies, cultural heritage and traditions, but I think it gives travellers a sense of purpose beyond themselves. It changes and expands worldviews. It gets people out of their comfort zones, and to look critically at what they take for granted, aka their privilege in their own lives and countries back home. Not only that, but I think seeing different ways of life help people realize how to change their own, and that of those around them for the better.
I have always dreamed of going to South America I will for sure be looking into Operation Groundswell as means to do just that!
Thanks again!
Blog 5!
Hello all! Since this week is uprompted I thought I would write this post about my experience with nature while living in another country for study abroad!
This past summer I had the chance to go to Grenoble, France. Grenoble is a city in the valley of three mountain ranges. It is phenomenally beautiful! Being in the bowl of these mountains, the city had a really interesting relationship to the outdoors, people lived there and would travel from all over France and Europe to come to this outdoors hub. In the winter the city offers amazing skiing, and in the summer offers outstanding hiking and biking.
What amazed me the most about this place was the infrastructure surrounding access to the outdoors. There were reuse gear stores where people could pick up hiking equipment, shoes, bike repairs, clothes, you name it all for an affordable price. Outdoors gear thrift stores! Not only was equipment accessible but there were city buses, a part of the normal fare, that would take passengers up into the mountains on a shuttle bus. Myself and friends used this to our advantage and were able to do many amazing hikes and escape the city cheaply and with little to no effort. Without this transport none of us would have been able to enjoy the mountains and small towns near the city as they would otherwise have been only accessible by car. Bikes were also everywhere!! There were bike stands and on them hundreds of bikes, everywhere you looked there was someone biking or bikes lining the streets. This is not a rare sight in Europe but it was on an extreme in this city due to the outdoors incentive, as well as the challenges posed by air pollution. Since the city is in the mountain valley the geography prevents airflow and results in the city having one of the worst air pollution indexes of France. As a result there is an emphasis on getting cars off the street and people out of the city into nature to take a break from the air pollution.
There is also a gondola that leaves from the downtown. It is cheaply priced to make it accessible to all as well as to give citizens who cannot hike the opportunity to get up to the views the mountains provide. At the top of the gondola there is an old fort and some hiking trails with nature and historical/cultural interpretation on them. These signs talk about the formation of the mountain ranges and the battles that have been fought there. It was an amazing form of interpretation because not only was it nature but the history of the human experience of nature within it. In Grenoble there was a big emphasis on community. People would buy and shop local, hang out in parks, spend time in the mountains, and at the top of this Gondola there would be events for the public run with the amazing view.
It was interesting to gain this perspective and to be able to think about it in the context of this course. Nature interpretation happens naturally when urban infrastructure prioritizes it.
Here are some photos!
Thanks for reading :)
Blog 4
Prompt : Who are you to interpret nature through art? How do you interpret “the gift of beauty”?
“Art is in the eye of the beholder, and everyone will have their own interpretation”. This quote was written by E. A. Bucchianeri, and it gave me a sense of place within the world of artistic interpretation. Growing up, I thought appreciating art meant simply going to a museum and studying artifacts and paintings, but I now know that art can be found anywhere. It can be as simple as taking a photo of a sunset you are amazed by, or by watching movies, shows, or documentaries. I never thought of myself as an interpreter, but this course has proved that I am one even though I never realized it.
Some forms of art that I’ve always had an appreciation for are movies and documentaries. The visuals and imagery from movies help to set the tone of the story and there are so many ways you can then interpret it. One movie that particularly caught my attention was Howl’s Moving Castle from Studio Ghibli. The film explores many themes, and you can tell that the producers put so much thought into the animations, the landscapes, and the characters. Although this movie is animated, I think it does an amazing job of capturing the essence of nature and how we can find beauty in real life. I’ll also add some pictures of scenes from the movie!
Growing up, I used to watch documentaries on Animal Planet, which inspired my love for nature and the environment. They were an opportunity for me to learn what our world has to offer and the beauty that lies within it. They painted a picture of how so many animals live in their environments and in turn, benefit them. The camera work allows viewers to appreciate the art and beauty of nature on other continents. I got the opportunity to learn about our world beyond where we live, and I was able to admire nature within Canada as well.
The Animal Planet documentaries are what sparked my interest in pursuing an environmental career, and more specifically in animal conservation. Climate change and human activities pose a big threat to the environment and its flora and fauna. These documentaries showed me the beauty of nature and how we may lose it one day, and I want to do my part as an interpreter to protect it and make sure that future generations can benefit from it. I hope to one day open my own animal conservatory and rehabilitation center. I mentioned before that I never saw myself as an interpreter, but there are so many ways to define it. I am a curious interpreter, who wants to find solutions to our problems and is continuously learning how to respect nature through art.
Hello!
Thanks for your post. I really enjoyed reading it and related to a lot of the things you spoke about!
Firstly, the way you wrote about art being all around us and that we don’t need to study paintings and artifacts is a very true and impactful statement. It also really works to serve the idea of accessibility in nature interpretation through art.
I think schools should teach people about how to see art in the world around them rather than just memorizing and learning about specific art pieces. I know my own appreciation for the natural world changed when I studied colour theory in relation to ecology. Not everyone has to be an artist, but if people are given tools to understand and identify patterns in the world around them then beauty becomes even more potent.
You spoke about Studio Ghibli, and I absolutely love every single one of their films. I also know zero Japanese but still watch those films not in English, because the pictures, art, music, and story can speak for themselves. Just enjoying the films for the art of them brings me so much joy and appreciation. I think this translates really well to nature interpretation. The interpreter should always try to make sure everyone understands what they are communicating, but so long as there are tools, and people are feeling comfortable, then art will be everywhere, and all the more powerful for it.
Secondly, growing up I watched every single David Attenburough narrated documentary out there. Animal Planet was among my all time favourites. Despite the stories of life and the hardships of the animal world, little me did not mind watching. I think it was due to the way that the stories were told, the amazing footage of nature was accompanied by music and facts, but was always was left to describe itself, and explain its own wonder. I think thats the power art in nature interpretation serves.
Looking forward to your future posts!
Nature Through Art Blog 4!
Who are you to interpret nature through art? How do you interpret “the gift of beauty”? (Your readings – specifically Chapter 5 of the textbook – will be helpful for this!)
Art! It’s fun! Its expressive! It’s interpretable! Art can be so many things. As the sayings go, a picture speaks a thousand words or beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The same goes for art in nature interpretation. Something as simple as a piece of granite filled with quartz, could be a masterpiece to some while just a piece of rock to others.
I think it's probably helpful if I explain my interpretation of what I consider art to be: I see art as a presentation of emotion, wonder and experience. The artist has their ideas when they create their work and yet the piece means something different to every person who looks at it and everytime they look at it again.
Nature interpretation is at its most effective when the guide simply helps to facilitate the learning and experience of the participants in an accessible way. Good interpreting really hones in on the uniqueness of individuals and the power of a shared experience. People all have their own unique pasts, future goals, and worldviews that influence how they interpret the present moment. It is shared experience, and the ability to appreciate our differences that creates community. The role of an interpreter is to connect people from all walks of life and facilitate a moment of connection and togetherness.
Who am I to interpret nature through art? I have always taken a big interest in visual art. I went to a visual arts program in highschool where we worked with different mediums, studied art history and theories, and were required to participate in community exhibitions. Further, I have since come to university where I study biology, geography and anthropology. In learning about the functioning of the biological/ecological, and cultural worlds at university I have added this knowledge to my experiences and worldview from my arts education. When I am in the outdoors, I think about why certain plant colours grow together, how they attract different pollinators, and the placement of such colours on the colour wheel. Plants grow the way they do for reasons of light absorption and the ecological niches they have evolved to fill. It's funny the way art colour theory can make sense of the patterns of plants in animals in biology. It brings me a lot of wonder and passion when I think about nature, science and the environment as art. This is an attitude I can bring to my work as an interpreter. An understanding of the interconnections between these two things that may seem disconnected. I think I could interpret nature through art, and help other people view nature through the things they have studied themselves. For example someone who has a masters in mathematics could appreciate the “art” of nature in for the wonder and amazement of the fibonacci sequence and golden ratio, and all the intricacies only they are trained to see. Guiding people to connect with nature through their individuality I think is the most effective way to interpret nature through art.
I think interpreting the gift of beauty is just that. Guiding people to their own worldviews and conclusions by encouraging them to be themselves and draw on what makes them unique. If beauty and art is about diversity, and complex, otherwise inexpressible human emotion, then it should be left as just that. Exercises of reflection, moments of guided interpretation, and a welcoming community to share one's differences are the best tools to interpret nature through art.
Week 3: Lets Talk Privilege, Empathy and Access
Google defines privilege as “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group”. I tend to think of privilege as everything I have never thought to ask or work for but non-the-less benefited from.
Privilege also creates blind-spots in our empathy. Things we don't consider to be obstacles or concerns can cause us to make our interpretive work isolating or inaccessible to others. For example, I speak French and English and speak both very quickly. When I used to coach skating, it took reminders from my supervisor or very confused looks from my student (a newly immigrated canadian excited to play hockey) for me to realize I wasn't accounting for our language barrier at all; I also never considered how my verbal instructions might be frustrating for him to understand or make him feel unwelcome on the ice. Heck, this middle school kid had the guts and confidence to join a learn-to-skate program where he knew most of the skaters would be at least half his age. I should have been doing everything in my power to make that confidence worthwhile. I have been on the other side of this as well. In one of my first jobs in the environmental science world I was part of a team of three men and two women (myself included). Unfortunately, our office only had two sets of waders below a men's size 9 despite having multiple female biologists, and on day two of work, one of the small waders sprung a leak. No one had considered that we might need different equipment because they had never struggled to find what they needed to do their job before. These examples are both small, easily fixed problems that maybe ruined a day at most, but if incidents like these pile up or happen regularly when an individual tries to access interpretive services (or provide them), they create a sense of unwelcome and unwantedness that will prevent excellent interpreters and guests from wanting to participate.
Another important relationship between interpretation and privilege is access. It is largely due to privilege that I became interested in environmental science and interpretive work in the first place. I grew up in a house with a large back yard, I have family with a cottage, and my best friend had many acres of private forest we could explore. I lived within a kilometer of bike and walking trails that were safe enough for me to explore alone as a young woman and if I ever felt unsafe I had my large dog Rudy to take with me. We think of nature as free space that everyone should have access to but it costs money to live close to nature or find transportation to these areas. If my family had never moved from Detroit where I was born my relationship with nature and my career would look a lot different. Because I had access to natural spaces I am now a young interpreter; if most interpreters are from similar backgrounds as me (white and middle class), none of us will notice when we are excluding others because of the earlier mentioned empathy gap.
I am still learning about my privilege and how it affects my work and will be doing so for the rest of my career so I look forward to hearing your thoughts and discussing further!
Until next time,
Elle
Hi Elle! I really enjoyed your blog post!!
The idea of privilege creating blindspots in our empathy is a really powerful and accurate metaphor. I think always being on the lookout for these blindspots is a very important part of being a nature interpreter or a compassionate person in general.
Your stories of the person learning ice hockey, and your own story of being a female in a position that historically was one held by men really illustrated the variety of blind spots within privilege. I think your point of a lack of understanding for privilege piling up is super important. It completely can turn people away from things that could easily have been made accessible by compassion and understanding. People should not feel guilty for their privilege they hold, but should instead use it to help others where they can. Help in this context could be to present understanding, to listen and or to provide one's own privileged expertise where it can be supportive and applicable, but never where it is not wanted. Things such as helping to identify opportunities, lending equipment, or offering expertise when asked are positive examples.
I also relate to your comments of privilege playing a big role in becoming interested in environmental science and interpretive work in the first place. I grew up on the caledon rail trail system and my family lives on the edge of three conservation areas. My experiences, knowledge and comfortability in the outdoors comes from where I grew up and the incentive and support I had from friends and family to pursue these interests. I think your point of the risks of interpreters being from a similar demographic is huge. Nature interpretation leaders should be as diverse a group as possible, but the privilege to become a nature interpreter is not something I had considered when writing my previous post.
Thanks for the insight!
